Way Out West Ride 23-25th July 2024

View from Cowra lookout

Stanwell Tops

 There had been lots of interest in this year’s Way Out West ride from the time of my first posting of our 3-day ride adventure.

I relied on the well-used ride itinerary, 2 nights in Cowra, 1 dinner at the Imperial, 1 dinner at the Bowlo, but where do I take a bunch of well healed, smart as, I’ve been everywhere man, ride group so they will have had a good ride, good roads and visit a place of interest. The Dish – did that in 2021, The Roundhouse Turntable – did that in 2023, what’s the next place of interest – that I haven’t been to nor 80% of the fellow Tourists – Temora – Aviation Museum, sounds good and they offer, you guessed it, Seniors concession. So plan made, now just hope like hell that it isn’t fucking freezing; Riders love nothing better that complaining when you as ride leader deliver miserable conditions to ride in, one thing that reduces complaints is they will have paid for 2 nights accommodation, so they are kind’a forced to come along – and really they can’t complain.

Tuesday 23^rd – scheduled 0930 start time from Maccas McGraths Hill, Good signs, all riders there and ready when I got there with 10 minutes before the starters gun, my expectations is that we had 14 riders for the day – a quick head count we had 13 or 14, is somebody  missing ? Did the Normal briefing, welcomed a new rider Owen Mostert, gave him the clap (later learnt he’s Beemer mad) 

OK let’s go – heading down to Windsor bridge, a biker coming the other way is wildly waving at me, my mind clicks into gear – ah there’s the 14^th / 15^th rider – Ken we know who you are. 

Quick talk the TEC at Kurmond – yes picked up Ken – but now he’s getting fuel. Road works at Bell allowed for the catchup, further on, road to Oberon closed – Ok make a change – early morning tea at Bowenfels, then power onto Blaney for lunch – minor excursion on a high quality dirt road (no complaints), fuel then Lunch – all riders accounted (Ken) for – press onto Cowra via Wyangla Dam – arriving 1600 hrs. Joined by Rocket – who had chores to do in the Am, so rode up to join us for the next 2 days, now 15 or 16 riders. Good ride, good roads, great corner marking, looking forward to beer, dinner, wine and a few Bow-wow stories to end a great day. 340 Ks, Temp 8 to 15, Sunny, no wind, all asleep by 2130

Wednesday 24^th – cool morning – most bikes had a covering of thin ice. Clutch out 0900 – after breakfasting at the coffee shop at the top of the hill. Suggested detour to Cowra town lookout before riding to Temora, new leader for detour – all but 2 see the views from the Lookout, corner marking slip up.

Riders at the Cowra lookout 

Re group at the Olympic Hwy turn off in Cowra, head count is good. Let’s go, I can hear the rider complaints in my mind – fricking cold, my heated grips are useless, - hey just up the revs a bit, Temora here we come. Fuel up before going to the Museum, the TEC advises me of an abnormal discussion with a rider in Young about country road speed limits, as ride leader I thought the speed was good, especially when following the local Land Cruiser driver who thinks that driving at above the speed limit is OK. 

 Temora Aviation Museum, morning tea to start, we were allotted a guide – another Alan, he showed us thru the museum, giving us the run down on the planes in both Hangers – year built, numbers built, who funds the ongoing cost (the defence forces – so us the tax payer), really a high quality place, many planes are the last ones in existence. Would say we enjoyed the visit, plus one rider did a test flight in the simulator, seemed to age him marginally after landing, I mean – this rider had no skills or sense – who would fly under the Harbour Bridge twice on their maiden flight.

Chasing up the stragglers – departed for Grenfell and lunch, after lunch the stragglers took control of the ride back into Cowra at a good pace. Dinner at the Bowlo – beers, wines, more tall stories and who has paid the most for plumbing work. 320 kms, temp 5 to 17, Sunny, light wind, some asleep by 2130.

Dinner at the Cowra Bowlo

As a bye the way – there was rumour of a split in the ride group for the final day – split leader sited that the route advised for the way back to the Northern Beaches area would exceed his daily kilometre allowance – thus was head counting riders to return to Northern Beaches area and further beaches area north. Being a conciliatory rider leader; I did offer an alternative route, only to be shouted down by the willing riders who looking forward to the original day 3 ride. Thus, the next day we would downsize from 15 to a group to 11 riders.

Thursday 25^th – no ice this morning, breakfast and ready to clutch out by 0900 or earlier, if possible, some riders didn’t get the email. North party of NBR riders depart – then our party of 11 clutched out by 0855. First stop Crookwell – scone shop closed – although Tony and Peter did find suitable replacement, AB decided that headlight globe replacement was a job to be done at morning tea, with help from onlookers and some advise the job was a success, AB was pretty happy later when riding into Goulburn, we passed a 4 car Hwy Patrol setup for RBT – AB headlight shone brightly, AB is the sort of person who make sure that he knows the Road Rules – it’s a penalty to ride a motorcycle without the headlight on, seems he was breaking the law for the first 2.5 days of the ride. Fuel at the Exeter exit on the freeway – lunch at Exeter, then onto Stanwell Tops via Roberston, Helensburgh. Stopped to admire the great ocean view from the Tops then through National Park to be back in city traffic and a final farewell of 6 riders at Maccas airport. 465 kms, temp 5 to 23, Sunny/cloudy, windy after 1000 hrs, hopefully all rides home by 1700hrs – safe and satisfied of having a couple of days Way Out West – think maybe will pick a different town for next year, share the experience.

 

How good is it to get away on your bike with your ride buddies for a couple of days or longer, good riding, good roads, great company and great towns that we visit. 

Thanks to all riders, who enjoy over the speed limit riding, corner marking, telling tales and thanks to TEC Peter KTM who makes sure that slow coaches and stragglers get up to the Normal ride speed.

 

Regards Al Reece